Costco earned top points for the quality and value of what it sells as well as for its store and website layouts.

The survey results didn't surprise Angela Bauer, manager of the new West Fargo Costco.

"Costco really prides itself on the quality of the product and the presentation of the product and trying to get the very best value to our members every day," she said.

"We're always going to find the best quality product at the best possible price for our members."

While showing visitors around the new store, Bauer pointed out where she feels Costco shines.

"Our fresh areas really separate us," she said, referring to giant coolers where dairy products and produce were being stocked.

She said the store's layout aims to make it easy for customers to find what they're looking for.

"It's open by design. We want people to see what's next," Bauer said.

The store features an optical shop with two optometrists who rent space: Dan Levin and Stacey Archibald.

Archibald is from Canada and has practiced in the Fargo-Moorhead area for about a year.

Levin, who is from West Fargo, has practiced in the area for about 24 years.

He approached Costco after driving by the site.

"It worked out perfect. I just was looking for a change," Levin said.

"I have a feeling we're going to be busier than we know what to do with, but that's going to be a good thing. We're looking forward to it."

Pay and benefits

Bauer said positions at Costco start at $11 an hour and all employees are guaranteed a minimum of 24 hours a week.

After six months, all workers receive full benefits, including medical, dental and eye insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan.

The store has hired the 200 or so workers it needs to open - more than 3,000 applied - but Bauer said they are always looking for additional quality applicants.

"As we grow and expand, we'll continue to hire," she said.

Costco isn't the only major new retailer entering the Fargo-Moorhead market.

Sam's Club, which already has a location in Fargo, is planning a Moorhead store that will be located near Menards on 27th Avenue South near Interstate 94.

Sam's Club spokeswoman Delia Garcia declined to discuss how the company feels about competing with Costco, other than to say: "We're always focused on our customers and making sure we're serving our customers the right way and giving them the products that they need.

"Customers really make the decision, then, of where they want to shop," Garcia added.

Mark Vaux, West Fargo's economic development and community services director, said the city is happy with Costco's decision to build where it did.

He said one incentive the city provided was to designate that sales taxes generated by the store during its initial years will go to pay for developing infrastructure for the site, work that is typically paid through special assessments.

Member based

An annual membership is required in order to buy something at Costco, but there's nothing stopping someone from coming out to look around before deciding whether to join the club.

"As always, our memberships are 100 percent refundable at any time during that year," Bauer said.

An executive membership is $110. With that, customers earn 2 percent back on purchases. They also get two membership cards per household.

A Gold Star membership costs $55. That gets a household two membership cards, but customers earn no money back on purchases.

Departments

The new West Fargo Costco membership warehouse is the first Costco warehouse in North Dakota. It is the 440th in the United States and the 610th worldwide.

The store has several specialty departments, including a gas station, a fresh bakery, a fresh meat counter, fresh produce and a deli with rotisserie chicken.

It also has an optical department, a one-hour photo center, a tire center, a hearing aid center, a food court and a section where beer, wine and liquor are sold.

VIP Day

Costco VIP Day is from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. Visitors won't be able to make purchases, but they can tour the store and sign up for memberships.

People can also sign up for memberships from noon to 6 p.m. today. Signups done today will be handled at the entrance to the store.

Hours

Costco will open at 8 a.m. on its first day of business Tuesday. Regular store hours will be 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays; and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.